Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-18
BIG DAY FOR PENSIONS.
TWO BILLS PASS THE HOUSE FOR
THE VETERANS BENEFIT,

One of Which Provides for INDECENT Pa
rents-The Mexican Pensions Bill Nearly
resentative Cox Some Better-Mrs. Lo-
gan's Fund-HaLen's Funeral.
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. 1S.-The bill for
the benefit of INDECENT soldiers and de-
pendent parents introduced in the house about
a week ago was passed by over 100 majority.
Monday 1t changes thelaw in regard 10
dependent parents 50 that it is only necessary
to prove present dependence instead of de-
pendence at the time Of the death of the sol
der or sailor. 1t gives pension Of Sl2
month TO all persois, without regard to
rank, who have been honorabiy discharged
and who are now or may hereafter be sui
fering from any menta or physical disahil-
ity, not the result of vicious habits or gross
carelessness, which incapacitates them from
earning support for themselves by daily Ia
Dor The pension is to date from the passage
of the act, and not more than one pension is
to be granted to the same person at the
same time. As the terms of the bill include
among pensione rs the disabled and INDECENT
WHO Ill tue HaIs III bctliIl
of the United States, it necessarily includes
many persons who wore the gray in the civil
war after having fought for the Union in
prior wars. But its benefits are expressly
limited 10 persons whose political disabilities
have been removed and whose physical or
mental disabilities were not incurred in mil
itsry service against the United States. Mat
son says it is "a charity measure and the son
timent of the country is in favor of extend
ing helping hand to the proposed beneti-
Charles, and escially to those who are in the
almhouSes.
In regard to the cost, ne says inquiries
were addressed TO every county III the United
States, and upon the information received
from about half Of them, it is estimated that
the act would apply to about 10000 soldiers
and sailors. Adding to this number all others
who would be entitled to the benefits of the
act it is estimated that the grand total wouli
be 70, l05 persons; and that the increase OF
the annual pension charge upon the govern
ment would not exceed 5000, 900 or So,
00O000 The objections raised to this
bil by Bragg and A. j. Warner and
Blount of Georgia go to the principle upon
which the bill is based-the uncertainty OF
| Tue 6SLlIll1btS anu the COet- DtOunb A6EldEeI
that the estimates offered by Matson were
based upon the most meager information,
and were at best nothing more than guess
work. He recalled the fact that similar esti-
mates were made when the arrears bill was
pending, placing the amount Of probable ex-
penditures at SIS, 000, 900, but that the cost
had amounted to 500, 000, 900 Warner says
it Discriminate in favor of the indolent and
| thriftlesS men against the industrious and
sober
Only five PERSONS oct of a total of PAS
voted against the Mexican pension bill
which passed the house Monday. The bill as
amended by the senate and passed provides
that there must have been sixty days service
or actual participation in battle, and the
applicant be e. years of age, or subject TO
disability or dependency equivalent to some
cause prescribed by the pension laws as sutfi-
cient reason for the allowance of pension.
| Widows who have not remarked are en-
| titled to the benefits of the bill, and it bars
| persons not within the rule of age or disab,l-
| ity or dependence, or who incurred the dis,
alb lily in the service of the Confederate
states The pension is to be paid only from
the date of passage of the act and only,.during
the natural life or continuance of the disa-
bility for which the pension is granted PEN
sioEers who are now receiving less than $ a
month are TO be entitled TO an increase here
| after to that amount.